Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A radio frequency transmitting system comprising: a first amplifier configured to amplify an input signal to generate an amplified signal, wherein the input signal is amplified by the first amplifier in accordance with a programmable gain; a second amplifier configured to transmit an output signal based on the amplified signal, wherein the output signal is transmitted at a particular power by the second amplifier; a power detector configured to measure the particular power at which the output signal is transmitted by the second amplifier; and a calibration module configured to adjust the programmable gain of the first amplifier by a calibration offset so that the particular power at which the output signal is transmitted by the second amplifier, as measured by the power detector, matches a predetermined power, wherein the calibration module includes a plurality of offset generation modules, wherein each of the plurality of offset generation modules is configured to generate a respective calibration offset candidate based on the particular power at which the output signal is transmitted by the second amplifier as measured by the power detector, and a selection module configured to select, based on the predetermined power, one of the plurality of calibration offset candidates as the calibration offset.
A radio frequency (RF) transmitter system automatically calibrates its power output. It uses a first amplifier to boost an input signal, with a gain that can be programmed. A second amplifier then transmits the amplified signal as an output signal at a specific power level. A power detector measures the actual power of the transmitted signal. A calibration module adjusts the gain of the first amplifier to match the measured power to a desired predetermined power. The calibration module includes multiple offset generators, each producing a potential calibration offset. A selection module chooses one of these offsets, based on the desired power, to fine-tune the first amplifier's gain.
2. The radio frequency transmitting system of claim 1 , wherein the programmable gain of the first amplifier is adjusted based on adding the calibration offset to the predetermined power.
The radio frequency transmitting system described uses the calibration offset by adding it to the desired predetermined power to adjust the programmable gain of the first amplifier. This addition allows the system to compensate for variations and ensure accurate power output by modifying the amplifier's gain based on the selected calibration offset.
3. The radio frequency transmitting system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of offset generation modules corresponds to a distinct range of possible values of the predetermined power.
In the radio frequency transmitting system, each offset generation module is assigned a specific range of possible values for the desired power. This means that different modules handle different power levels, allowing the system to apply different calibration offsets depending on the desired power output. This division optimizes the calibration process for varying power requirements, ensuring accuracy across the entire output range.
4. The radio frequency transmitting system of claim 1 , further comprising a lookup table configured to generate a selection signal in response to the predetermined power, wherein the selection module is configured to select the one of the plurality of calibration offset candidates as the calibration offset in response to the selection signal.
The radio frequency transmitting system incorporates a lookup table that generates a selection signal based on the desired power. The selection module then uses this signal to choose the appropriate calibration offset from the candidates. The lookup table maps desired power values to specific selection signals, streamlining the offset selection process and ensuring the correct offset is applied for each power level.
5. The radio frequency transmitting system of claim 1 , further comprising an analog-to-digital converter configured to digitize the particular power, as measured by the power detector, at which the output signal is transmitted by the second amplifier.
The radio frequency transmitting system includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to convert the measured power from the power detector into a digital signal. This digitized power value is then used by the calibration module for processing and determining the appropriate calibration offset. This conversion allows the system to perform digital signal processing for more precise power control.
6. The radio frequency transmitting system of claim 1 , wherein the selection module comprises a multiplexer.
In the radio frequency transmitting system, the selection module is implemented using a multiplexer. The multiplexer selects one of the calibration offset candidates based on a control signal, allowing for efficient switching between different offsets. This enables fast and dynamic adjustment of the amplifier's gain for accurate power control.
7. The radio frequency transmitting system of claim 1 , wherein a first offset generation module of the plurality of offset generation modules includes a counter configured to (i) increase the respective calibration offset candidate in response to receiving an up signal, and (ii) decrease the respective calibration offset candidate in response to receiving a down signal.
Within the radio frequency transmitting system, at least one offset generation module uses a counter. This counter either increments its offset value when it receives an "up" signal or decrements its offset value when it receives a "down" signal. This incremental adjustment provides a means to dynamically fine-tune the calibration offset.
8. The radio frequency transmitting system of claim 7 , wherein the first offset generation module further includes: an up signal generating module configured to selectively generate the up signal in response to a comparison of (i) the particular power, as measured by the power detector, at which the output signal is transmitted by the second amplifier to (ii) a first predetermined threshold; and a down signal generating module configured to selectively generate the down signal in response to a comparison of (i) the particular power, as measured by the power detector, at which the output signal is transmitted by the second amplifier to (ii) a second predetermined threshold.
Within the first offset generation module of the radio frequency transmitting system, an "up signal generating module" creates the "up" signal if the measured power is below a threshold. A "down signal generating module" creates the "down" signal if the measured power is above another threshold. These modules enable feedback-driven adjustment of the calibration offset, increasing the offset when the power is too low and decreasing it when the power is too high.
9. The radio frequency transmitting system of claim 8 , wherein: the up signal generating module includes a first comparator with (i) a first input receiving the first predetermined threshold, and (ii) a second input receiving the particular power, as measured by the power detector, at which the output signal is transmitted by the second amplifier, and the down signal generating module includes a second comparator with (i) a first input receiving the second predetermined threshold, and (ii) a second input receiving the particular power, as measured by the power detector, at which the output signal is transmitted by the second amplifier.
Within the radio frequency transmitting system, the "up signal generating module" contains a first comparator comparing the threshold value to measured power. The "down signal generating module" includes a second comparator comparing another threshold to the measured power. The comparators' outputs generate the up/down signals for dynamically adjusting the calibration offset within the offset generation module.
10. The radio frequency transmitting system of claim 8 , wherein the first predetermined threshold and the second predetermined threshold are set based on the predetermined power.
In the radio frequency transmitting system, the predetermined thresholds used by the up/down signal generation modules are based on the predetermined desired power. This relationship allows the system to dynamically adapt its control parameters to ensure that the output power converges to the desired level.
11. The radio frequency transmitting system of claim 10 , wherein: the first predetermined threshold is set based on the predetermined power plus a predetermined offset, and the second predetermined threshold is set based on the predetermined power minus the predetermined offset.
In the radio frequency transmitting system, the first threshold is calculated by adding a predetermined offset to the desired power, while the second threshold is calculated by subtracting a predetermined offset from the desired power. This creates a window around the desired power, enabling precise control by adjusting the calibration offset when the measured power falls outside of this window.
12. The radio frequency transmitting system of claim 1 , wherein the calibration module further includes an averaging module configured to supply, to the plurality of offset generation modules, a running average of the particular power, as measured by the power detector, at which the output signal is transmitted by the second amplifier.
The radio frequency transmitting system incorporates an averaging module that calculates a running average of the measured power. This average power value is then used by the offset generation modules, smoothing out fluctuations and improving the stability of the calibration process by reducing sensitivity to transient power spikes.
13. A method of operating a radio frequency transmitting system, the method comprising: using a first amplifier, amplifying an input signal to generate an amplified signal, wherein the input signal is amplified by the first amplifier in accordance with a programmable gain; using a second amplifier, transmitting an output signal based on the amplified signal, wherein the output signal is transmitted at a particular power by the second amplifier; measuring the particular power at which the output signal is transmitted by the second amplifier; and adjusting the programmable gain of the first amplifier by a calibration offset so that the particular power at which the output signal is transmitted by the second amplifier, as measured, matches a predetermined power, wherein the adjusting includes selecting one of a plurality of calibration offset candidates as the calibration offset, and generating each of the plurality of calibration offset candidates based on the particular power at which the output signal is transmitted by the second amplifier, as measured.
A method for controlling the power of an RF transmitter involves amplifying an input signal using a first amplifier with adjustable gain, transmitting the amplified signal through a second amplifier, and measuring the output power. The method then adjusts the first amplifier's gain using a calibration offset to match the measured power to a target value. Generating multiple calibration offset candidates and selecting one based on the measured power allows for fine-tuning the gain to achieve the desired power output.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising adjusting the programmable gain of the first amplifier based on a sum of the calibration offset and the predetermined power.
The power control method involves adjusting the amplifier gain based on the *sum* of the selected calibration offset AND the predetermined target power. So, after the method selects one calibration offset from the offset candidates, the method will use that offset + the target power to control the programmable gain.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of calibration offset candidates corresponds to a distinct range of possible values of the predetermined power.
In the power control method, each candidate calibration offset is associated with a specific range of possible target power values. Selecting from multiple calibration offset candidates based on distinct ranges of target power enables a modular calibration process targeted to different potential power values.
16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising looking up a selection signal from a table in response to the predetermined power, wherein the selecting is performed in response to the selection signal.
The power control method includes consulting a lookup table to obtain a selection signal based on the desired power, and then using that signal to choose a calibration offset. The selection is thus performed in response to the lookup table's selection signal.
17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising, for a first calibration offset candidate of the plurality of calibration offset candidates: increasing the calibration offset candidate in response to receiving an up signal; and decreasing the calibration offset candidate in response to receiving a down signal.
The power control method adjusts a calibration offset candidate by incrementing it upon receiving an "up" signal, and decrementing it upon receiving a "down" signal. This provides a mechanism to dynamically adjust the calibration offset candidate in a feedback-driven manner.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising, for the first calibration offset candidate: selectively generating the up signal in response to a comparison of the particular power at which the output signal is transmitted by the second amplifier, as measured, and a first predetermined threshold; and selectively generating the down signal in response to a comparison of the particular power at which the output signal is transmitted by the second amplifier, as measured, and a second predetermined threshold.
In the power control method, the "up" signal is selectively generated if the measured power is below a first threshold, and the "down" signal is selectively generated if the measured power is above a second threshold. These thresholds enable the system to automatically adjust the calibration offset based on the measured power relative to target ranges.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the first predetermined threshold and the second predetermined threshold are set based on the predetermined power.
In the power control method, the first and second thresholds are set based on the target power. This relative thresholding enables dynamic recalibration centered around the target power value and allows for a modular calibration approach.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein: the first predetermined threshold is set based on the predetermined power plus a predetermined offset, and the second predetermined threshold is set based on the predetermined power minus the predetermined offset.
In the power control method, the first threshold is calculated as the desired power plus an offset, and the second threshold is calculated as the desired power minus an offset. This creates a target window for the measured power, enabling fine-grained control by adjusting the calibration offset when the measured power falls outside this window.
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November 25, 2014
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